12 Going On 21

I am constantly amazed by the writing skills people display when given the freedom to write freely. Today’s post comes from one of MasonPR’s talented Account Coordinators. Meet Mr. Stephen Chavez. -Mario

With kids having to grow up faster in today’s world it doesn’t surprise that parents are allowing their children to do things that I would not have been allowed to do when I was younger. However it’s also hard to compare raising kids in the 80’s to the 2000’s. The Internet has changed everything including how children are raised.

Now I’m no child psychologist or parenting expert but witnessing a family member (whom I will refer to as 12 going on 21) at the tender of age 12 start her own Facebook page just bothers me. Now I know kids her age have MySpace pages, which probably is more dangerous than a Facebook account, but something about someone that young having a Facebook page irks me. Maybe because it means they are becoming immersed in social media so young, maybe it’s because that means her friends probably already have an account on FB, maybe I’m worried because she already friend requested me and will see everything that I post.

I guess more than anything I worry about 12 going on 21’s safety in the online world. I don’t know anyone else personally, that young on Facebook and her addition to the millions online doesn’t sit right with me. I have observed that children grow up so fast these days and 12 going on 21 is no exception.